Rights Holder: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum
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Unique ID: WILT-8274C4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Medieval copper alloy pedestal type seal matrix with a circular face. The matrix has a central design of an arched pelican piercing her own chest to feed her young who sit in a nest below. There are two symettrical branches either side of the nest that frame part of the inscription and form the outline of a circle with the arched back of the pelican. The legend is illegible and has been chipped, removing the upper edges of some letters and any outer border.
The central pedestal type handle rises at a slight angle and has six facets narrowing as it rises to a waist where it expands out again to a double-ridged collar. Here the handle terminates ending in a flat, transverse, circular loop at the top.
The seal matrix is 19.90mm in maximum diameter at the face and stands 27.43mm tall; it weighs 9.58 grams.
Notes:
The pelican in her piety was a symbol of Christ's sacrifice; it is one of the religious motifs which were popular during the 14th century.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Height: 27.43 mm
Weight: 9.58 g
Diameter: 19.9 mm
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Other reference: E 2015-31
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.